Web Conferencing Services ? Types

You may already have recognized the need for web conferencing within your organization. You have heard all about the many benefits and have decided it is the way forward for your company. Now all you have to do is decide which type of web conferencing would best suit your company's needs.

A quick investigation into the types of web conferencing available will result in a myriad of information. For the uninitiated, unraveling what is available can be confusing and time-consuming.

Below you will find a quick guide to the types of web conferencing currently out there. Each organization will have its own individual requirements and it is important to be clear about what you hope to gain from web conferencing. For example, is it a fully interactive virtual meeting place that your organization needs, or do you require a document sharing system that will allow employees in different geographical locations to work together on projects? Once you understand how you want web conferencing to work for you, analyzing the types of web conferencing and how they could work for your organization will become much easier.

Web Meeting

With growths in international business and a growing trend towards home working, the need for a virtual meeting place is increasing. A web meeting is just what it says - a meeting that takes place over the Internet. This facility has the capabilities to hold real-time conversations and share documents. Web meetings can be fully interactive, allowing participants to converse in real time and for information to be exchanged between delegates.

Web meeting set-ups vary in terms of sophistication and a very rudimentary system can be set up using just a digital camera and a broadband connection.

The Webcast

As the name would suggest, a webcast is a type of broadcast similar in nature to a television broadcast except, of course, a webcast takes place over the Internet. The broadcasting nature of this facility means that there is little opportunity for the presenter and delegates to interact with each other and therefore its function is primarily as a presenting tool. The other main feature of a webcast is that it can be broadcast simultaneously to hundreds of recipients.

If your requirement is for a presenting tool that also offers the interactive features of a web meeting, then you should consider a webinar.

The Webinar

As the name suggests, the webinar is a facility that allows you to conduct a seminar over the web. Allowing a greater level of interaction than the webcast, a webinar enables the presenter to conduct question and answer-type sessions with delegates. However, you should remember that a webinar does not afford the same degree of interaction as a web meeting.

Other Uses For Web Conferencing

Online Presenting

Web conferencing can also be used for conduction online presentations. Online presenting is ideal for sales pitches, performance reporting or providing training for other members of your organization. Add on features include slide shows, web based conversing and audio/video streaming.

Online Collaboration

This is by far the most commonly used type of web conferencing and is the ideal solution for organizations who have multi-location sites yet require collaboration between their employees on projects and documents. Online collaboration has file sharing capabilities that updates changes and alterations to documents in real-time to avoid errors.

Diane Parker is a web content writer who specializes in internet related topics. Her conferencing articles include: web conferencing software, choosing a web conferencing tool and internet conferencing.

Motivated By All The Wrong Reasons

Sometimes trying to be spiritual holds us back from actually living the spiritual life we want. In our quest to live such spiritual and good lives, we often avoid the stuff that makes us seem unspiritual, even if that very stuff can move us toward our own spiritual growth.

Spiritual seekers are well aware of the power of intention. We know that it is the thought behind the action that is more important than the action itself. We know if we are motivated by fear and take action based on that fear, the results can be limiting and work against us.

Because of this, we try to align our intentions with that of love, abundance and wholeness. Unfortunately, for many of us, when we go within to explore our motivation, seeking that deeper answer to why we want something, we sometimes end up no deeper than where we began. We might tell ourselves we really want to do or get something in order to help humanity or some other noble reason to make us feel better about ourselves, but in reality, we may simply be motivated by money, greed, fame, power, etc.

Upon discovering this, we then sit around telling ourselves we don't want to do something unless we are doing it for the right reasons. So we sit, and sit, and sit. Years pass and we're still sitting, waiting for that right reason to come, that spiritual, pure and noble reason.

While it is noble to want to act out of the right reasons, sometimes the wrong reasons can be just the catalyst we need in order to take action and find the right reasons.

It is through the process of pursuing our destiny that we create our destiny and discover who we truly are and what we're all about. If we sit around waiting to be noble and whole before we act toward nobility and wholeness, we will never get there.

When I was 19, I dated a recovering alcoholic. He was in Alcoholics Anonymous and suggested that I to go to Al-Anon (for family & friends of alcoholics) to better understand him. He also knew that my father happened to drink quite a bit and thought it would be good for me to understand more about alcoholism in general. For no other reason than to please him and be a "good" girlfriend, I went. I certainly didn't think I needed to go, not for me, for him, or for my father.

Now we all know that people-pleasing, an ego-driven motive, is not a spiritually good reason to do something. But was it the right reason for me? Yes. And here's why.

In those meetings, I learned about the true nature of alcoholism. I learned that I am not to blame for my father's drinking (I didn't even know I had been blaming myself). I learned that I am worthy, valuable and important. I learned to trust in a Higher Power, have faith that the Universe is in order and most importantly, I learned to trust and believe in myself.

All of this came out of my ego's desire to please someone else, to make them think that I am a "good" girlfriend and therefore, a "good" person.

Had I refused to go because my intentions weren't pure and spiritually driven, who knows how many more years I would have lived in blame, shame and denial.

My point is, don't sit around and wait for the right reasons to motivate you. Sometimes the right reasons come disguised as the wrong reasons. If greed is the only thing that will motivate you to get up off that couch and take action toward your dreams, I say go for it! Use whatever you have currently available to you, right or wrong, good or bad, to start the process.

If you have searched within and cannot seem to find the right reasons, use those "wrong" reasons to catapult you into action toward fulfilling your life's purpose. Somewhere along the way, the right reasons will emerge and make themselves very clear to you. Often we think we want something for a certain reason and when we get it, or while in the process of getting it, we discover the true meaning behind our motivations. Or our reasons change, our intentions and motivation changes as we learn and grow.

I have a friend who started a business years ago strictly to make money. Her husband left her and she had to find a way to not only support herself, but also to prove to him that she didn't need him. It was part necessity, part revenge. Actually, to be quite honest, it was mostly revenge. She could have easily taken an office job to support herself since her previous employer before she married had offered her old job back. But she refused. She wanted to make lots of money and become a successful business woman to spite her ex-husband.

Two years into the business, she discovered that she loved working for herself. She loved the independence and satisfaction that creating her own income generated inside her. Her business transformed as she transformed. She found that she loved seeing her customers happy and began focusing a big part of her business toward customer satisfaction. She discovered that she had a lot of strength and courage and didn't need to depend on anyone else for her well-being.

Motivated initially by revenge, she soon learned that it didn't matter what he thought. In fact, to this day, she has no idea if he knows about her success and she could care less. She is happy, confident and leads a joyous and full life. She is no longer motivated by revenge, spite or ego-driven desires.

Like me, had she not taken action and instead sat around waiting for more noble intentions, it is uncertain where she would be today.

So go out and live your dreams. Lead your spiritual life by accepting and embracing seemingly unspiritual things. Go after your goals, no matter how unspiritually motivated they may be. If this is the only way to get you moving, it doesn't matter if you are doing it for money, revenge, greed, power, attention, glory, martyrdom, sainthood or any other ego-driven desire. Along the way, you'll find your true self and all those "wrong" reasons will fall away and be replaced by more pure and noble reasons. If it takes a wrong reason to turn your life around toward wholeness, it must not be so "wrong" after all.

Teresa Franklyn is author and publisher of The Daily Dose, a popular inspirational online publication. Visit her at http://www.followyoursoul.com for more inspiring articles.

Touchdown! Closing Skills for Successful Selling

It's early January 2004. The Green Bay Packers are just 72 seconds away from their fourth NFC Championship game. They have a three-point lead over the Philadelphia Eagles, who face an impossible fourth down and 26 yards on their own 28-yard line. All Green Bay has to do is hold Philadelphia to less than 26 yards. One play. That's all.

Just one play. In sports bars and living rooms across the country jaws drop when Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb completes a 28-yard pass to Freddie Mitchell, and the Eagles get the first down. They kick a game-tying field goal and force the Packers to dig in for overtime.

Philadelphia receives the ball. After struggling for little gain the Eagles punt it away. Green Bay's task is simple. Keep the ball on the ground and advance into field goal range. Favre takes the snap, drops back, and inexplicably heaves a long pass... into double coverage. Into the hands of Eagle Brian Dawkins. Into history. Philadelphia marches into field goal range and kicks an easy three to win. Game over. Lights out. Thank you for playing.

The Packers lost because they didn't close. They played well, but in the end it came down to the fact that they didn't close and the Eagles did.

More than just preparation

Talent, tools and preparation are vital to the success of NFL players and sales professionals. But in order to change buying habits, we must also incorporate closing into the natural life of our sales presentations.

In simplest terms, a close is an agreement to take the next step together. What you close for varies based on your overall objectives and your history with a customer.

Have you ever seen a football team attempt a one hundred-yard touchdown pass? Not likely. Both players and coaches understand that a touchdown is the last of a series of plays, each designed to bring the team closer to the goal line, which increases their chances of a successful touchdown attempt, which brings them closer to their ultimate goal of winning the game. Every play is important.

It's the same principle in sales. If you try to close a sales call without first executing a customer-focused presentation, you're probably not going to be very successful. However, as the Packers found out on that crisp January day, you can execute a lot of good plays well, but if you fail to close, you don't get the win.

The clock is ticking...

Green Bay legend Vince Lombardi once said, "The Green Bay Packers never lost a game. They just ran out of time." In all likelihood, the Packers assumed that their three-point lead was safe with just over a minute left on the clock and Philadelphia deep in their own territory. The win (close) was assumed. As Packer Al Harris said later, "Fourth-and-26 yards, that's like fourth-and-forever." That assumption cost Green Bay the game. It may cost you a sale.

An effective close is carefully crafted to answer these questions: What am I going to do? What are you going to do? What is the expected outcome? When you close by gaining a commitment, you make the touchdown. Because at the end of the day, someone has closed the customer. Shouldn't it be you?

Getting the win

By most measures 2003 was a successful season for Brett Favre. He passed Dan Marino and climbed into second place on the NFL's all-time list for postseason touchdown passes. He surpassed Marino in all-time postseason passing yards, moving into third place in the record books. Favre extended his NFL record for consecutive postseason games with a touchdown pass to 15, and pushed his NFL record for most consecutive starts at quarterback to 208.

Clearly, the three-time MVP is a player with the talent, tools and preparation to win. But his team's failure to close is what made the difference. Favre will be remembered as a champion, but he will never have another chance to win that game.

When evaluating whether you've done enough to meet your objective, ask yourself, "Did I close?" That could be the difference between winning and losing.

Copyright ?2005 by Sally Bacchetta. All rights reserved.

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer/Sales Trainer

Sally Bacchetta is an award-winning sales trainer and freelance writer. She has published articles on a variety of topics, including selling skills, motivation, and pharmaceutical sales.

You can contact her at sb14580@yahoo.com and read her latest sales articles on her website.

Time to Spruce Up Your Public Relations?

Better check out the public relations fundamental premise, then take action in your own best interest.

The premise reads this way: "People act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving- to-desired-action those people whose behaviors affect the organization, the public relations mission is accomplished."

Here's how you can reap its benefits.

Do you REALLY know what your most important outside audiences think about your organization? Are you actually aware of which external audience has the most serious impacts on your operations?

Better find out by interacting with members of those target audiences whose behaviors affect you the most, then ask lots of questions. "Have you done business with us? Was it a satisfactory experience? What do you think of us and our products and services?" And watch carefully for any negatives, even undertones that may need corrective action.

The responses you receive allow you to set your public relations goal. For instance, correct that inaccuracy, straighten out the misconception, or challenge that rumor.

Not surprisingly, reaching that goal requires that you set a strategy, and only three are available to you: create opinion where there is none; change existing opinion, or reinforce it. The goal you set will lead you to the right strategy choice.

The "bullet for your gun," so to speak, will be the message you carefully craft and send to members of your target audience. It needs to be very clear as to meaning. It must be believable and it should be compelling. Above all, your message must be persuasive since it seeks to alter perception in order to modify somebody's behavior. Make your message very specific to your strategy: create opinion, or change opinion, or reinforce opinion.

Moving that message to members of your target audience is next, and you have a wide choice of communication tactics to do the job. Everything from speeches, emails and personal contacts to press releases, radio and newspaper interviews, special events and lots more.

By this time, you'll be wondering whether you're making any progress. Best way to tell is to interact once again with members of that key target audience. Ask much the same questions you used during your first perception monitoring session.

The difference the second time around is that you're watching carefully for altered perceptions. Were you successful in straightening out that inaccurate belief? Does it appear that you turned around that awful rumor, or made headway in clarifying that misconception?

Not enough progress to suit you? Take another look at your communication tactics and consider expanding both the mix and frequencies. And review your message. Is it clear enough? Were your supporting facts and figures as strong and persuasive as they might be?

As you increase the tactical pressure, you'll begin to notice positive changes in the perceptions of members of your target audience. In time, this will lead to the kind of behaviors you seek and, thus, the successful completion of your public relations effort.

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net.

Robert A. Kelly ? 2003

About The Author

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks about the fundamental premise of public relations. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net. Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

God Dont Like Rich People

I will never forget the day that my daughter's sixth grade friend told me that. We had been discussing someone who had recently lost a fortune and had become very bitter as a result. She suddenly piped up with that all knowing scowl that only a twelve year old girl can truly master while proclaiming, "God don't like rich people!" She said it as if it was a mortal sin worthy of an eternity in hell. She immediately made a snap decision from that point forward to dislike the person we'd been talking about. I've met her dad. He's a nice enough guy and from what I can tell, he agrees with his daughter. They are very regular attendees at their church. I don't know what church they go to, but all I could think to myself at the time was, "Who in the world is teaching her that!?"

For my daughter's sake, I bit my tongue. I wanted so badly to quiz her friend and find out the roots of that belief system. How does one logically come to that conclusion? I was under the impression that God was known to shower you with riches if he liked you. Solomon was extremely rich and God liked him. I thought that God's opinion of us had more to do with our character, not our bank account. I could even see that how you amassed your fortune could be important in God's viewpoint. I think about Job and how he was tested to see if money was the reason for his devotion to God. Upon passing the test, didn't God dump piles of money back into his lap again? And what about the father in the prodigal son story? He had money and God liked him.

Just as ridiculous to me are the people who spin it the other way around, as if God don't like poor people. They act like they're closer to God because they have money. Funny thing money, it can buy a lot of things, but I was under the impression that God wasn't for sale. Rumor has it that some churches and individual clergy can be bought, but not God Himself. Nowhere in the bible did I ever read that you could bypass the rules and just pay an entrance fee to get into heaven's gates.

I thought that money was a tool sometimes used for testing us. Do we remain spiritual while humbled and poor or do we become bitter and turn our back on God? Do we remain spiritual while spoiled and rich or do we become self righteous and turn our back on God? And what about the way we treat each other? Does the amount of money we have dictate how much love we are to receive from each other? "Congratulations on that job promotion you worked so hard for, buddy! But hey, you're too rich now, so me and God aren't going to hang out with you anymore."

What a silly concept that money would have anything to do with one's spiritual self-worth. I'm sorry for those children who have been raised to believe that the amount of money they do or do not have dictates whether or not God will like them. Personally, I've raised my kids on the idea that you behave yourself as best you can, and I do mean 'best.' Heed your spiritual calling. Love one another. Everything else will fall into place as it's meant to be. Oh, and be thankful for what you have. God don't like people with bad manners.

Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge

About The Author

Skye Thomas began writing books and articles with an everyday practical approach to life in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, and parenting. After years of high heels and business clothes, she is currently enjoying working from home in her pajamas. Go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net to read more of her articles and to get a free preview of one of her books.

Skye@TomorrowsEdge.net

Cell Phone Abuse: Are You A Victim?

Like millions of others, you may be the victim of cell phone abuse. What is cell phone abuse? Let's say you're in a public place trying to concentrate on something or having a face-to-face conversation or just enjoying a peaceful moment when a stranger 5-10 feet away starts talking on his or her cell phone. If, as a result, your concentration is broken or your conversation is interrupted or your peaceful moment ruined or you are otherwise disturbed, then consider yourself the victim of cell phone abuse.

Making or receiving one or two short calls in public among strangers is okay but extensive cell phone use or long cell phone chats which disturb other people is an invasion of privacy. It's inconsiderate, it's annoying, it's discourteous.

And worse, it's abuse.

And if the victim of cell phone abuse politely (or rudely) interrupts the abuser (as they talk on and on) and asks them kindly to take their cell phone elsewhere, or kindly be quiet; it's disturbing, the victim is all too often met with a perplexing look or even more abuse, as in "what's YOUR problem, I'm on the phone here!" Sure. Right. Every cell phone call is important and meaningful; so important and meaningful that people expose it to total strangers in public! Pul-eese.

Symptoms of Cell Phone Abuse -

while in the immediate vicinity of strangers using their cell phone common symptons may include:

• inability to concentrate on what you are doing

• mild or severe irritability or annoyance

• sensitivity to stupid or loud ring tones

• initially thinking the cell phone user is actually talking to YOU

• wishing they would hurry up and finish the call

• wishing they would leave

• wishing their cell phone battery would die

Cell phone abuse is a worldwide epidemic which is now affecting millions of men, women and children, with no relief in sight.

To the victims of cell phone abuse we say; we feel your pain and, though it's difficult, you will survive this horrible public abuse.

To the cell phone abusers we say ... try a little cell phone courtesy ... and do not burden or abuse others with your pseudo social and/or business self-importance. Or, at least, if you are in public and there are strangers around, keep your cell phone calls interesting ... and short. On behalf of the millions of us who suffer cell phone abuse every day, we thank you.

About The Author

Andrew Lawrence is a philosopher, founder of the Life Purpose Society and strives to help people feel better, do better, be better. He can be reached via http://lifepurpose.0catch.com

How to Get a Secured Loan UK

Living in the United Kingdom, you might find yourself in the market for a secured loan UK. Before rushing out to try to find one, however, you might want to do a little bit of research? after all, there's a bit more to it than simply heading down to the bank and getting them to loan you the money.

Why is the loan "secured"?

In a secured loan UK, a property deposit is required as a form of security for the lender. This deposit is known as "collateral", and can come in several forms. It might be a house or lot that you own, or perhaps an automobile? it could even be gold jewelry or antiques that you collect. Regardless of the form of the collateral, it all serves the same purpose: it ensures that the lender isn't going to lose money if you don't repay your loan, because they'll be able to sell the property that you put up as collateral for your secured loan UK.

Security affects other factors

With all loans, even a secured loan UK, there are a lot of factors that determine whether or not you get the loan. These factors include the amount of money that you make, your credit history, and in some cases even the types of bank accounts that you keep. Using collateral for a secured loan UK allows you to broaden some of these factors, since there is less risk involved for the lender. In most cases, you'll be entitled to a lower interest rate than you normally would, as well.

Things to keep in mind

The amount of the secured loan UK will likely be less than the value of your collateral? after all, should you default on your loan then the lender is going to have to sell the property and get enough to cover the cost of the loan, any fees associated with selling the property, and also any costs of previous collection and repossession attempts. The end result of this is the value of your collateral will be greatly reduced in the eyes of the lender, and it may well show in the final loan offer.

Another thing that you need to remember when applying for a secured loan UK is that if you don't repay the loan then the lender will sell the property you supplied as collateral. This may mean that you'll lose keepsakes, or perhaps even an automobile or real estate. Only borrow what you need (as opposed to what you can get), and make sure to repay it promptly to avoid any negative repercussions.

Finally, you should remember that successfully paying back your secured loan UK in a timely manner can reflect positively on your credit score? which will in turn entitle you to better interest rates and less of a need for collateral in the future.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

About The Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.